Method for producing time-indicating elements



Sept. 4, 1956 C STERN 2,761,198

METHOD FOR PRODUCING TIME-INDICATING ELEMENTS Filed Aug. 28, 1953 F/6.2 F/6.3 F764 [/Wr/AS J72)? A/ United States Patent METHOD FOR PRODUCING TllVIE-INDICATING ELEMENTS Charles Stern, Geneva, Switzerland Application August 28, 1953, Serial No. 377,206 Claims priority, application Switzerland October 2, 1952 1 Claim. (Cl. 29- 177) The invention has for its object a method for producing time-indicating elements having a plurality of facets and adapted to be mounted on the dial of a watch or the like horological instrument and to form thus projections over said dial.

This method is novel inasmuch as said elements are obtained in their final shape through a single stamping operation by reason of the facets being submitted to a mere final polishing which is intended solely to make the surfaces of the facets reflective.

In accompanying drawings, given by way of a mere exemplification,

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 disclose a first embodiment of the invention and more precisely, Fig. 1 shows the projecting time-indication element carried by a fraction of a dial and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are front, side and top views of the said element, as obtained in conformity with my improved method;

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of my improved time-indicating element, also carried by a fraction of a dial, Figs. 6 and 7 being a side view from above of said modified embodiment of the element.

Turning to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the element shown is constituted by a small block the lower surface 1 of which is slightly arcuate, so as to match the corresponding slightly arcuate shape of the dial plate 2. Said lower surface is provided with two feet 3 adapted to engage said dial plate. The block is bounded laterally and along its upper surface by flat facets 4. Such an element having flat facets, an incurved lower surface and feet, is obtained through stamping in a single operative step. This being obtained, the facets are merely polished with a view to giving them a reflecting surface and by no means for removing material and thereby modifying the shape or size of the element.

The element illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 differs only through its square shape from the precedingly described element and may be obtained in a similar manner.

Two advantages are obtained by the above method as compared with the prior methods according to which the facets are actually formed through polishing, to Wit:

Firstly, there is less material lost, which is important since such elements are generally made of gold and Secondly, the manufacture of the elements is speedier since the stamping is performed in a single operation and the subsequent polishing is reduced to minimum consisting in a mere superficial touching-up of the surface.

What I claim is:

A method for producing a small time-indicating element of precious metal limited chiefly by flat surfaces to be carried as a projection on the dial of a horological instrument, consisting in stamping in a single operation the different flat surfaces defining said element out of a blank and then polishing superficially the flat surfaces obtained to provide them with a reflecting power.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

